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Mexico border

I would like to preface this blog post by stating that I am no longer thru-hiking the Arizona Trail. After hiking only 34.6 miles, I made the very tough decision to get off the trail and end my thru-hike. Before leaving Arizona, I decided to spend time exploring the state with friends and family. I plan to share my adventures along the AZT and journeys throughout the state over the next few weeks in segments. Here is the story of my first three days on the Arizona Trail:

3 days, 2 nights / 22.5 miles / 3000′+ elevation gain/loss

Looking back towards the Mexico border from the Arizona Trail near Montezuma Pass

Day one: Montezuma Pass to Mexico border to Bathtub Spring

10 miles / 3000’+ elevation gain

Nervous is the one word I would use to describe the morning of my first thru-hike attempt. All of the planning and organizing had led up to this moment, and now that it was here, I was petrified! Scared as hell, yes, but also ready for an adventure.

I woke up before sunrise on the morning of my first day on the Arizona Trail. I was nervous, but excited knowing I would have my aunt joining me as I hiked the first 50 miles over the next five days. In many ways she has inspired me to find a love in backpacking, and I was happy to finally share that passion with her. She and I set out early that morning to catch a shuttle to Montezuma Pass with 3 other hikers I had met online several weeks before starting the trail. As a group we made plans to try and hike at least the first 120 miles together. It comforted me knowing that I had connections along the trail, and I was thrilled to be creating new friendships.

Our group ready to start our first day on the Arizona Trail.

After a drive up a long and winding gravel road, we arrived at the Montezuma Pass parking lot in the late morning. Mile 0 of the Arizona trail starts 1.7 miles from the parking lot and retraces its’ steps back. Since my aunt did not intend to thru-hike the entire AZT, she kindly opted to stay in the parking area with our backpacks while we hiked the first 3.4 miles to the Mexican border and back. This was it – we were finally starting this incredible journey!

Signing the National Registry for the Arizona Trail

Sign near the Mexican border on the Arizona Trail

The monument at the Mexican border for the beginning of the Arizona Trail

Our group at the Mexican border at the beginning of the Arizona Trail

The morning was nice with mild temperatures, blue skies and pure sunshine. The first 1.7 miles of the trail descent down towards the Mexican border, making it a fairly easy hike. The next 1.7 miles back up towards the parking lot weren’t as easy since we were finally starting our ascent up the Huachuca Mountains. By the time we reached the parking lot we were parched and happy to take shelter in the shade for lunch.

Hiking back up towards Montezuma Pass from the Mexican border, Arizona Trail

During our lunch break at Montezuma Pass we had the opportunity to meet the founder of Warrior Expeditions along with three of his warriors kicking of their hike on the Arizona Trail. I was so excited to be starting my hike surrounded by so many people. I was energized and ready to throw on my pack and really start this adventure. My aunt took our first ten steps together side by side grinning from ear to ear.

My aunt and I about to take our first steps on the Arizona Trail

We set out on the Arizona Trail with a goal of making it to Bathtub Spring that evening hiking 6.6 more miles. Right away the climb up was tough – temperatures were warming and the trail was completely exposed. All morning my body wasn’t feeling 100%, but I assumed it was just nerves. As the day progressed I continued to feel uneasy, but was able to slowly hike on. The next four miles of the trail gain over 3000′ of elevation as it makes its’ way up towards the spine of the Huachuca Mountains.

Looking south towards Montezuma Pass, Arizona Trail

Arizona Trail near Montezuma Pass

Arizona Trail

At some point my aunt and I stopped to rest in a rare shady spot, and one of our hiking partners arrived shortly thereafter. He notified us that our other hiking partner was feeling ill after hiking a few miles. She and her daughter decided to take shelter in their tent until feeling well enough to continue hiking on. We suspected altitude sickness considering we started our hike at 6000′ and would be ending the day at just over 9000′. We stayed connected using our gps devices communicating about potential camping spots along the way up. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before we all realized that the best decision for our ill hiking partner was to leave the trail as her symptoms continued to worsen. By the time the three of us reached the highest point of our hike, we were exhausted and still had more miles to go.

Just after reaching our high point for the day on the Huachuca Mountains, Coronado National Forest

As we hiked along the ridgeline of the Huachuca Mountains, the sun was beginning to set which created an urgency to move quicker. The terrain changed with every turn of a corner, and before we knew it the sun had set and all of that beauty had whizzed by. Thankfully, we stumbled into the area near Bathtub Spring with moments of light to spare. We were even more grateful that the warriors were camping in the area and happy to share the very tight quarters with our group. I have never seen six tents in a smaller area!

With headlamps running, the three of us set up our tents in the dark of night. Shortly thereafter I puked behind a tree nearby. My body had finally lost the battle with altitude sickness and I was feeling awful. It took everything I had to drink water, send out sad messages to my husband on my Garmin about how awful the night was, and try not to fall asleep with dried bananas in my mouth that I was forcing myself to eat. It was a very crazy first day on the Arizona Trail.

But it wasn’t until the middle of the first night on the trail that things really started to get crazy. It was very cold with temperatures less than 30°, and as the night progressed a fierce wind storm blew in. All I could hear is what appeared to be the cracking sounds of trees swaying in the wind around me. I continued to imagine myself being crushed by a giant tree inside my tiny tent. As time passed into the early morning hours, the wind storm brought rain, that turned to hail, and eventually turned to snow.

Day two: Bathtub Spring to Parker Canyon Lake trailhead

12.5 miles / 3000’+ elevation loss

I woke up on the second day in southern Arizona surrounded by a light dusting of snow. I crawled out of my tent still feeling sick to my stomach with shortness of breath. I forced myself to eat a hot breakfast and hurriedly packed up for the days’ long hike ahead. Our goal was to make it to the Parker Canyon Lake trailhead where we would be dry camping for the night.

The morning was beautiful as we hiked along the ridgeline of the Huachuca Mountains heading north. As we made our way down the western side of the mountain range, the trail switched back and forth descending through diverse terrains. We started our day with a chill in the air walking through patches of snow, and ended the day in the warm desert.

My aunt hiking down the western side of the Huachuca Mountains, Arizona Trail

A view of Parker Canyon Lake viewed from the Huachuca Mountains, Arizona Trail

As I hiked down into a lower elevation I began to feel much better and was able to hike at a pretty good pace. The downhill trek was toe-pounding and by the time we reached the base of the mountains my feet were beginning to get pretty sore. I welcomed the flatter section as we made our way through Sunnyside Canyon. A small creek flowed, only a trickle at times, alongside the trail for nearly 3 miles. Near the end of what we believed was our last water source for the day, our group stopped and filtered water. I carried 6 liters of water for the last 4 miles of the hike, hoping it would be enough until our next water source the following day. Funny thing was, we continued to see water almost the entire way in intermittent pools along Scotia Canyon.

By the time we reached our destination after hiking more than 12 miles, we were spent. Well, my aunt and I were spent, but our other hiking partner was an experienced section hiker who was just getting started. It was at this time my aunt let me know she couldn’t hike any further. She was planning to hitch a ride from Parker Canyon Lake campground the following morning.

Arriving at our destination with little daylight to spare once again, we hurriedly setup camp and prepared a hot dinner before sunset. After a certain point in the day, I stopped looking around me, stopped taking pictures, stopped enjoying the moment. During the sunset on the second evening of my hike on the Arizona Trail I was able to stop and look around me and be in that “Kodak memory moment,” as my aunt would say.

That evening was emotional for me and I had a lot to think about. Even though I knew my plans would be shifted as soon as I started the trail, I was panicking as it felt like everything was falling apart around me. What started out as a group of 5 was now down to a group of 2. My only hiking partner was a skilled section hiker with plans to hike 15+ miles each day; a pace I could never keep up with. My options at this point were to either continue hiking the trail alone or leave the trail with my aunt and regroup.

On day 3 of my thru-hike attempt on the AZT I decided to get off the trail. I hoped to reconnect with my original hiking partner and her daughter and get back on the trail soon. It was a bittersweet moment that morning as we said farewell to our new friend who was continuing his journey along the Arizona Trail alone. I was so proud of those people that could hike on, but so disappointed in myself for not being able to.

Through the kindness of others and connections we had already made on the trail in only 3 days, my aunt and I found our way back to Patagonia Lake State Park. It was here where I spent the next two days reconnecting with my original hiking partner and coming up with a new game plan to get back onto the Arizona Trail. This adventure was not over yet.

Your Complete Guide to the Arizona National Scenic Trail by Matthew J. Nelson

I am so excited, nervous, eager, anxious, scared, and happy to announce that I’m planning to thru-hike the Arizona Trail (AZT) this year! I have all the feels right now about this journey I’m about to take. The AZT is a roughly 800 mile pedestrian, biker, and equestrian trail that runs from the border of Mexico to Utah through the state of Arizona. I plan to hike the entire length of the trail South to North starting from the Mexican border on March 27, 2017. As you can imagine, this is going to be a daunting task.

Since our move to Washington over four years ago, my husband and I have found our place in a wonderful circle of new friends. That circle includes many adventurous people with goals and accomplishments I didn’t even know existed, much less thought were possible. I’m so thankful to be surrounded by so many like minded individuals who have encouraged me to reach higher than I thought I ever could. When I combine my old friends with these new ones, it creates a tribe like no other! With the support of my friends and family, I feel confident that in early June I will walk in Utah on my own two feet.

As I prepare for this journey across Arizona, I am going to be using my blog as a platform to discuss all things AZT! This means the format of my blog may change a bit, but will still focus on photography during my hiking and backpacking adventures. Only now my hikes will be expanded outside of the PNW. I hope my followers appreciate the changes I make along the way, and continue to support TamarasCameras.

Since making the decision to hike the AZT and sharing my plan with friends and family, I have received many different responses. I am asking that people please refrain from using the following phrases:

“You’re such a bad-ass!” – While I really enjoying being called a bad-ass, I haven’t done anything bad-assery yet. At this point I have spent way too much money on backpacking gear, sat in front of the computer and AZT guide book for way too many hours, and ignored the basic duties of a housewife leaving piles of dishes and laundry throughout the apartment. These things do not give me the title of bad-ass.

“I’m so proud of you.” – Including all of the reasons above, there is nothing to be proud of yet. If I do make those steps into Utah after walking 800 miles, I’ll let that be a moment of pride. Until then, just wish me luck.

“You’re crazy!” – Ok, this one is true.

I look forward to sharing my adventures with you as I trek across the Arizona desert this spring. Forgive me as I fumble through the process of planning for and attempting my first thru-hike. I have sooooooo many things to learn, and look forward to any and all positive criticisms and advice shared. Happy trails!